“Colleen designed a banquet style bench for our kitchen and window seat cushions for our remodel. She was professional, fun to work with, punctual and creative. Colleen designed beautiful modern benches and was mindful of our budget. We both enjoyed working with her. The benches add the perfect finishing touch to our home! Thanks Colleen!!”

- Jen & Scott H
Orono, MN

About Us

Colleen Fox Slack holds a BA in Urban Studies and Geography from Vassar College and an AAS degree in Interior Design from Dakota County Technical College.

What is the most important thing people should know about you?
I am easy to talk to, professional, organized, and I want my clients to absolutely love their home.

What led you to interior design?
Design has always been my passion, but it has taken different forms over the years. I went from designing patterns of colors and shapes using blocks and shoes as an infant to constructing furniture and appliances for my dolls, to reading design magazines in high school and studying the history of furniture styles. In college I made café curtains for my dorm room windows out of vintage napkins I embellished with ribbons.

In my previous career as an urban land use planner I focused on how people use public spaces and how to make them functional and livable, and I continue to focus on that on a smaller scale as I design people’s homes. I founded a custom pillow business, which was an exciting outlet for my design ideas. Then I went back to school, got my degree in interior design, and now I get to practice my passion every day.

What has been most influential to your design style?
Growing up my family visited a lot of historic sites around the world, and I always studied the architectural and interior design elements of the homes before I even realized what I was doing. I believe this fostered an appreciation for a wide variety of decorative styles. The home I grew up in had a mix of mid-century teak furniture, oriental rugs, and simple, clean-lined furniture with layers of texture. This remains the foundation of my design style.

Where do you find inspiration?
I have always been a voracious reader, so I devour countless magazines and design blogs every month. I am also inspired when I visit people’s homes and observe how they live and how they tell their story with the objects they select. The power of travel is substantial as it has always exposed me to new visuals, trends and ways of life. Now that I am a parent I am inspired to continue to grow as a designer to show my daughter my passion and what it means to love what you do for a living.

What is your design approach?
Each client lives a unique life, and their spaces should reflect and suit their lifestyle. I need to understand who they are and what is and isn’t working for them in their home before starting a design. In order to create a successful design, the client is an essential part of the process because the design is ultimately the result of an evolving discussion between us.

What do you enjoy most about working with your clients?
I enjoy the process of getting to know my clients, learning about their interests and the realities of their day to day lives. It is extremely fulfilling seeing their excitement as a project is completed and they get to see how our work together has resulted in a space that meet their needs and exceeds their hopes and wishes.